Turf Plan to stay in-house for nowDirector Mack Hollis told the Russellville Recreation and Parks Commission during its meeting Tuesday that it needs to consider more economical alternatives to a proposed $100,000 Turf Plan. He said the City Council took no action on the plan because of funding issues. "Don't get me wrong, I visited with them [councilmen] and they're for it," Hollis said of turf improvements. "... They're for a plan if we can find the funding." Hollis said tha...

News Briefs (Jan. 15, 2015)Election Commission meeting today Pope County Election Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. today at the Pope County Election Headquarters, located at 1509 E. Main St., Suite 7 in Russellville. American Legion Jamboree tonight The Williams Brothers will be featured at the American Legion Jamboree at 6 p.m. tonight at the American Legion Hut. The Williams Brothers include Leaman and Aubry Williams, Leo Eddleman, Frances Jones and George and Vicki...

Wilson brings experience, integrity to PCSOAlthough new to the chief deputy position at the Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), Blake Wilson is a nationally known law enforcement veteran. Wilson and Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said they hope to head a department of transparency and accountability for Arkansas River Valley residents. Wilson worked with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) for nearly 40 years — 32 years as a trooper and five years as a dispatcher — and planned to retire ...

Housing price declines over past yearAlthough the number of units sold increased over the past year, the average price per unit sold decreased in Pope County, according to the Arkansas Realtors Association (ARA). A recent report by the ARA showed 73 residential units were sold in Pope County in November, a 23-unit increase from November 2013. However, the year-to-date total of 783 units is behind the November 2013 year-to-date total of 799 units. The average price of residential ...

Hector Board accepts coach resignationHECTOR — After a nearly two-hour executive session, the Hector Board of Education voted to accept the immediate resignation of girl’s basketball coach and physical education teacher Tiffany Phillips on Monday night. During the same executive session, the board conducted the annual performance review of Superintendent Walt Davis. Upon its return to open session, the board took no action. Davis explained taking no action was possible under the s...

Thompson's contract extendedDARDANELLE —The Dardanelle Board of Education extended the contract of Superintendent John Thompson through 2018 during its meeting Monday. Not only was Thompson's contract extended to June 30, 2018, the superintendent was also given a 5 percent salary increase effective for the 2014-15 school year. Thompson has been head of the school district for 18 years. Present board members — Jerry Don Woods, Brandon Carter, Jody Sigle and Jerry Dawson —...

Civic club invites marchers to 'Bridge the Gap'The Pink Rose Arts and Civics Club will host the 15th annual "Bridging the Gap" program/march to honor Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday at the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. The program will kick off at 9 a.m. with doughnuts, coffee and hot cocoa before the featured speakers begin at 9:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. "We would like to share with the community the memory Dr. King would want us all to...

News Briefs (Jan. 14, 2015)Alzheimer’s support meeting Thursday Area Agency on Aging will host a support group for caregivers at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Dardanelle Senior Activity Center, located at 701 N. 5th St. Anyone who deals with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is invited to attend. The support group is sponsored by Alzheimer’s Arkansas, a state-wide program providing support and education for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. For m...

Berry, Standridge face runoffEditor's note: The vote totals in this article are according to final, unofficial results reported on the Secretary of State's website. Visit www.sos.arkansas.gov to view all results by county. Stan Berry will face Gregory B. Standridge in a runoff election Feb. 10 for the District 16 State Senate seat after the two emerged with most votes — but neither with more than 50 percent — during Tuesday's primary election. Standridge received nearly 4...

Cleanup day scheduled at Dardanelle RockThe Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) will host a volunteer work day at the Dardanelle Rock Natural Area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The beautification effort will focus on removing litter from the area. "The goal of this event will be to reduce the amount of trash along our boundary and within the interior of the area," a new release stated. "Our work will help native plants and animals on the natural area and help to make the ...

Republican Asa Hutchinson sworn in as Arkansas governor LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican Asa Hutchinson was sworn in as the 46th governor of Arkansas on Tuesday, finalizing the GOP's takeover of a Southern state once considered a Democratic holdout, but facing a potentially divisive debate over Medicaid expansion. Speaking to a joint session of the state House and Senate, Hutchinson called his campaign promise to cut middle-class income taxes by $100 million a year his top priority and said the propos...

West Parkway Drive speeds increaseA recent observation of West Parkway Drive has led to an increase in the speed limit. The speed limit on West Parkway Drive was increased last week from 35 mph to 40 mph from Glenwood Avenue through Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) to Joplin Avenue and 40 mph to 45 mph from Joplin Avenue to the junction of West Parkway and West Main Street. Mayor Randy Horton said he was asked by many residents if the speed limits could be raised. "I was...

The Russ Bus receives grant to build facilityA $25,000 grant will change the lives of Russellville's homeless community helped daily by The Russ Bus. The nonprofit organization received a $25,000 grant Monday from the West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District to help construct a transitional living facility. The 12-unit complex will serve individuals and families in a lot behind The Journey church. Fred Teague, founder of The Russ Bus, said he hopes to start the constructio...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 2 in Circuit Court. • David Long, 22, forgery, possession of a controlled substance and theft by receiving — $7,500. • Alyssa Childress, 19, forgery and theft by receiving — $5,000. Long and Childress attempted to use a forged check at a...

Election Day underwayElection Day for the District 16 State Senate race is underway and polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at six locations throughout Pope County. Republicans Gregory B. Standridge, Thomas Akin and Stan Berry are vying for the seat, which was vacated by Michael Lamoureux when he was hired by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as chief of staff. District 16 encompasses all of Pope and Newton counties as well as parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren co...

No immediate plans for body camerasThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) and the Pope County Sheriff's Office have no immediate plans to outfit officers with body cameras. "We have cameras in the units [patrol cars] and don't have any immediate plans to get body cameras," RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said. New body cameras cost more than $1,000 each. "It's so early in the game," Latch said, noting there is currently no legislation regarding the cameras. "That's ...

News Briefs (Jan. 13, 2015)No driver’s tests Wednesday No driver’s tests will be given on Wednesday at the Hughes Community Center in Russellville. For more information, contact the Arkansas State Police Headquarters, Troop J, at (479) 754-3096. Dover Chamber Awards Banquet The 36th annual Dover Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Dover School Cafetorium located at the Fine Arts Building. Tickets are available by calling Sandra D...